Fewer foreign students earn doctorates at U.S. universities

WASHINGTON, D.C. (USANN4)–Fewer foreigners are earning science doctorates at American universities. The National Science Foundation reports that doctorates in science and engineering earned by foreign students dropped last year by 3.5 percent. That’s the first decline in more than five years.The drop came despite an overall increase in the total number of doctorates issued by American universities. The study’s author says there are several causes for the decline. They include job-market conditions overseas and in the U.S. that might lead students to delay graduation.